1. Each Citizen is a Nation Builder, Says Prez Kovind
India’s new President Ram Nath Kovind on Tuesday flagged pluralism and unity in diversity as cornerstones of the country’s success. Kovind said the “key to India’s success is its diversity. Our diversity is the core that makes us so unique”.
Nations, he said, were “not built by governments alone” and required national pride, in the soil and water of the country, in its diversity and inclusiveness, in its culture and “in the little things we do everyday.”
Earlier he was administered the oath by Chief Justice of India JS Khehar at a ceremony in the Central Hall of Parliament.
Making a special mention of Mahatma Gandhi, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, and Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar, the new President said that for these leaders, freedom was not simply political freedom but economic and social freedom for millions of Indians.
Source: The Hindu
2. Madras HC Makes Vande Mataram Must in Schools, Private and Govt Offices
The Madras High Court on Tuesday ruled that Vande Mataram should be sung in all schools and colleges across the state “at least once a week,” and in government and private offices “at least once a month”.
Issuing the order, Justice M V Muralidharan said:
Considering the larger public interest and to instil a sense of patriotism in each and every citizen of the state, the national song ‘Vande Mataram’ shall be played and sung in all schools, colleges, universities and other educational institutions at least once a week (preferably on Monday or Friday).
He added that Vande Mataram “shall be played and sung in all government offices and institutions, private companies, factories and industries at least once a month”.
Source: The Indian Express
3. 9 More Die in Gujarat Floods, Toll Touches 83
The death toll in Gujarat floods reached 83 with nine more deaths reported on Tuesday.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the state and announced a relief package of Rs 500 crore for the flood-affected districts. He also declared ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh to the next of kin of the deceased, and Rs 50,000 to those seriously injured in the floods.
Modi conducted an aerial survey of flood-ravaged areas of north Gujarat where the authorities have shifted more than 36,000 people to safety and rescued more than 1,600 with the help of Indian Army, Indian Air Force and the National Disaster Response Force personnel since Monday.
Source: Times of India
4. 'Open to Talks but Won't Quit Doklam'
India will remain "firm and resolute" on the ground or at the military level to thwart any attempt by China to "bully" Bhutan, while being "reasonable" at the politico-diplomatic level to resolve the ongoing troop stand-off with the People's Liberation Army in the Doklam area in Bhutanese territory, say sources.
India has steadily established an "enhanced border management posture" near the Sikkim-Bhutan-Tibet tri-junction under this overall strategy, with additional soldiers being deployed after proper acclimatisation for any contingency in the region located at an altitude over 11,000-feet.
Concurrently, diplomatic channels are being kept open despite the almost daily dose of belligerent rhetoric from China and its state-controlled media.
Source: Times of India
5. Mumbai Building Collapse: Death Toll Rises to 12, Shiv Sena Leader Booked
A dozen people, including two infants, were killed when a 35-year-old four-storey building collapsed on Tuesday in the Ghatkopar suburb of Mumbai, a tragedy that repeats almost every monsoon in India’s space-starved financial capital.
The Siddhi Sai building at Damodar Park near Shreyas cinema in western Ghatkopar came apart and trapped more than 20 people around 10.45am. Many of them are still under the rubble.
Among the dead were four old people, three-month-old Renuka Thak and Krishu Dongre, who was one-and-a-half years old.
The ground floor housed a nursing home, which was vacant, while the rest of the building was occupied by three or four families on each floor.
Source: Hindustan Times
6. No RS Seat for Yechury: Kerala CM
Even as the Central Committee, the apex decision making body of the CPI(M), discusses a third Rajya Sabha term for party general secretary Sitaram Yechury, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan ruled out the possibility of the party agreeing to elect Yechury from West Bengal with the support of the Congress.
Accepting the Congress support to send our party general secretary to the Rajya Sabha would be against and not in accordance with the political stand we have been adopting.Pinarayi Vijayan to Indian Express
Vijayan added that Yechury, being the general secretary of the CPI(M), would not be able to do justice to his role as parliamentarian as his party responsibility involves travelling across the country for party works.
Source: The Indian Express
7. Armed Forces Prepared to Defend Country, Says Jaitley in RS
Defence Minister Arun Jaitley on Tuesday told the Rajya Sabha that the Armed Forces were “reasonably and sufficiently equipped” to defend the “sovereignty of the country,” amid concerns raised by parliamentarians regarding a CAG report that the Army had critical shortage of ammunition.
Jaitley's response came after Opposition members raised the issue of defence preparedness in the wake of a CAG report tabled in the Parliament recently and called the previous Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar a “non-performer.”
The CAG stated that the Army faces a shortfall of 40 percent ammunition and only 61 out of 152 types of ammunition were available. The Army is supposed to hold stocks of ammunition for 40 days of an intense war.
Jaitley clarified that the CAG report has reference to the shortage of ammunition in relation to a point of time.
Source: The Hindu
8. Delhi Cop Flashes Woman Colleagues, Suspended
A Delhi police cop has been suspended for getting drunk and flashing in front of a woman colleague at the police training college. The incident was reported by the woman officer who informed her seniors on Saturday night.
Police sources said the cop, posted at the police training college in Jharoda Kalan, had also inappropriately touched two women constables at dinner.
At around 6pm, inside the mess, the cop who was reportedly reeking of alcohol touched two women constables. They threatened to inform their superiors if he did not apologise. An hour later, another woman constable alleged that the cop had stripped and masturbated in front of her.
Source: Hindustan Times
9. Nitish May Act Against Tejashwi Before Assembly Session
JD(U)-RJD ties have entered a tense terrain amid growing indications that Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar is under pressure to avoid the embarrassment of having to defend or ignore the corruption charges against his deputy Tejashwi Yadav during the assembly session beginning on Friday.
Things seem set to hot up on Wednesday when legislators of both RJD and JD(U) will hold separate meetings to stake out their positions.
Sources in JD(U) said Kumar, who prides his anti-corruption credentials, will be loath to defend his deputy if BJP, as is likely, launches protests on the floor of the assembly to demand the resignation of Tejashwi who has not yet provided an explanation for the circumstances in which he ended up being the owner of properties worth hundreds of crores without having a known source of income.
Source: Times of India
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